The Ultimate Guide to Vegan Protein and Supplements

A little while ago, I set out on a mission to find the best vegan protein powders and supplements. I was searching for products that are the best in what they do, whether it’s providing lean protein, hydration, or essential nutrients or replacing a meal. I then sampled each product in various ways to determine the best way to consume each one as well as for whom each one is best suited. If you’re unsure about what protein powder or nutritional supplement is for you, this is your guide.

Expert tips: This shake is absolutely delicious. (I prefer the Vanilla flavor, but the Chocolate was good, too.) I could see myself drinking it just for the flavor. The best part of Ka’Chava is that it’s very thick in consistency, which makes you feel like you’re drinking a big rich smoothie without actually having to make one, and it actually keeps you full for several hours. If you have a fast-paced lifestyle and need a truly delicious meal substitute, this is what you’ve been waiting for.

Expert tips: This newly reformulated version of the original protein powder includes a sizeable increase in the grams of protein, along with better taste and consistency. Try blending EPIC Original Protein with a banana, nondairy milk, and any other fruit you’d like for a refreshingly light and frothy meal replacement—it’s especially perfect for a breakfast on the go.

Expert tips: These reformulations of the vanilla, chocolate, and green protein powders are more nutrient dense than their predecessors. They also taste richer and smoother, without a bunch of added calories or sugar. Epic Protein is a good option to take along to the gym because the containers are manageable and the product mixes easily with water or almond milk. The Chocolate Maca flavor is especially delicious.

Expert tips: This product is made entirely of pumpkin seeds, which for those who don’t know, are incredibly nutritious. If you’re concerned about not only consuming cruelty-free products, but also eating as naturally as possible, this is a great option. It has a very light taste and would be delicious in a smoothie with banana and peanut butter.

Expert tips: This new vegan protein shake, the brainchild of ex-Russian ballerina Lola Sherunkova, serves as an extremely nutritious and equally delicious meal replacement packed with various super-food, digestive, and green blends. Mixed with a simple nondairy milk, this shake is smooth and decadent and even comes formulated with whole chia seeds in the blend to chomp on.

Expert tips: My favorite thing about PlantFusion is how silky-smooth it is, which is perfect for anyone who usually has texture issues with protein powder. I found that the Chocolate and Chocolate Raspberry flavors were very tasty and mixed well with the plant flavors. The Chocolate Raspberry flavor mixed in a shake with frozen berries tastes delicious.

Expert tips: I would highly recommend this option for anyone searching for more of a meal replacement than a basic protein powder. Instead of just protein, it simulates the nutrition of a healthy meal, with 17 g of complex carbs and 7 g of essential fats. The Chocolate Caramel smells and tastes like a little cup of heaven.

Expert tips: All the flavors are pretty good, but the Chocolate has the best taste and consistency. This shake would be great for mixing into a smoothie or even just with some nondairy milk and a banana or other fruit.

Expert tips: I found that this version tasted much better than the classic protein. It even tastes good mixed with 8 oz. of water, which is really quite extraordinary and makes it a great option to take with you to the gym.

Expert tips: This hemp powder tastes fine alone or with a glass of soy milk, and it’s almost flavorless, except for a pleasant earthy undertone. If you already have a go-to smoothie that you make for breakfast or between meals, I would recommend adding several tablespoons of this hemp powder for extra protein and omega-3 fatty acids. If taste is an issue for you with other types of protein, give this one a try!

Expert Tips: If you enjoy green smoothies or juices, this supplement would be a good protein-packed greens substitute in your drinks. I found that it had the best taste and texture when used in a substantial smoothie.

Expert tips: This protein supplement has a fine texture and mixes best with a blender ball. I’d suggest mixing it with a nondairy milk other than soy so that you’re getting nutrients from a mixture of sources. It would also be a good, simple option to take with you to the gym.

Expert tips: Mix it in a blender ball with nondairy milk for a rich chocolate protein shake. The taste and texture are excellent and make it a great meal between meals. It’ll fill you up for a while but not so much that you’ll want to skip dinner!

Expert tips: The taste of this supplement was really exceptional, and it mixed well with everything I tried it with. I even sprinkled in half a scoop with my oatmeal one morning, which in all honesty was a really great choice.

Expert tips: Between the two MRM options, I would definitely choose the Chocolate Mocha flavor because of the taste and the additional nutrition. This option would be great to take to the gym for a light post-workout drink.

Expert tips: I would definitely use the recipe on the package for a Green Dream smoothie (1 Tbsp. of the supplement, 1 cup of dairy-free milk, 1 cup of spinach, and one banana). The smoothie, which would be great for a breakfast on the go, was very delicious, and it feels really healthy and empowering to drink a whole cup of spinach!

Expert tips: With a blender ball, the consistency is very light and frothy, so use it to follow up an intense gym workout. The flavor mixes great with vanilla almond or soy milk if you have it around, but it works just as nicely with water, too!

Expert tips: This would be a good choice for anyone needing a protein boost while counting calories. It mixes well enough with water that I would use the Choc-o-lat flavor at the gym. The fruit flavors will mix really well with your favorite fruit-smoothie recipe.

Expert tips: This powder added more flavor and texture to smoothies than the regular protein powder, but I thought it didn’t mix as well with plain water or nondairy milk. I made a smoothie with the vanilla powder, plain almond milk, and a frozen banana. I could definitely see it becoming my regular breakfast to go. This option is especially nice since it comes blended with omega-3, antioxidant, and super-green additives that supply 50 percent of your daily vitamins and minerals.

Expert tips: This electrolyte drink is packed full of nutrients, without any added sugar. It truly tastes great, and I would suggest mixing different flavors together (like the Red Raspberry with the Lemonade). If you’re training for a race or doing lots of cardio, try this replenisher to stay hydrated. It’s also a great supplement to help prevent you from getting sick during the cold winter months.

Expert tips: This product is pretty remarkable. I love coconut water but find it can be expensive and inconvenient to find at times. With these packets, you can turn any bottle of water into coconut water, which has a good amount of potassium and electrolytes.

Expert tips: This version is specifically formulated for athletes to help balance pH and electrolytes. The Lemon-Lime flavor has the best taste, and I’ll definitely be using it in the future to stay hydrated and for potassium as I train for long-distance races.

Expert tips: BCAAs are amino acids and help reduce fatigue and the loss of amino acids from your muscles during a workout. In short, it helps you build more muscle if you’re lifting weights or keep it on if you’re doing lots of cardio. I use this product when training for long distance races to help retain muscle mass. I would mix it with an electrolyte drink for the best taste and effect.

Expert tips: Although it doesn’t contain any protein, I would recommend adding this powder to a fruit smoothie or oatmeal for additional antioxidants and amino acids. It has a light, almost blueberry flavor that can be a very pleasant additive.

Expert tips: This unsweetened cacao powder is also a great choice for increasing antioxidants. I would recommend adding it to one of the chocolate protein powders on this list for additional rich chocolaty flavor that’s healthy!

Note: All samples were provided to me by the companies for an honest review.

I have tried literally every single one and the one that is truly certified organic, vegan, gluten free and is free of any extra crap is Epic Protein by Sprout Living. My favorite is their Vanilla Lucuma; but rotate with Chocolate Maca.

Its like 100 calories per serving, no fat or sugar, or anything, just protein and superfoods.

Rainbow light vanilla and acai berry are pretty good and very reasonably priced. I do 2 scoops which equal 30g protein once or twice a day. I like to mix it with half water and half coconut water and frozen fruit. It consists of pea, rice and hemp proteins plus other good nutrients. The taste is decent too.

It also has inulin from chicory root, and maca root*; a digestive enzyme blend, including protease I, protease II, amylase, and cellulase; a mixed berry complex, including wild blueberry, blueberry, black raspberry, cherry, marion berry and blackberry; and Vega also has a dairy-free probiotic blend. All items with an asterisk are organic.

It also has vitamin and mineral supplements, including D2, to make up 100% of most peoples’ daily needs.

One serving packs 15 grams of fiber 26 grams of protein so it’s very healthy and filling.

I likr Keto Slim which is packed with vitamins, has a marvellous vanilla flavor and no sugar (I have hypoglycemia). However I don’t drink it, I make it into a paste with unsweetened soy milk and mix it with fresh berries. So tasty and satisfying.

I’ve been using rice protein in my after workout-smoothies. I like it but I plan to try some other types. After reading this I intend to try one of the blends. Note that processed soy is not easily digested for a lot of people. When I relied on it for much of my protein I found that I was hungry all the time. With the switch to alternative proteins (rice, pea, etc.) I am much more satisfied.

Thanks for the article. As an avid kickboxer I like to consume about 30% of my calories from protein and fats and 40% from complex vegetable based carbs. I am always looking for ways to get protein into my diet. I will check these out, hopefully they are not full of carbs and calories!

Soy protein …. right now strawberry/raspberry flavour!
Though it contains aspartame (not quite desired) but it tastes well with soy milk (and sometimes ice cream)! 😛
Haven´t really tried any other protein powders!
When I do hard work outs I don´t really want to get so ‘full’ in order to be able to eat more. So, I stick to some soy protein powder for now!
Ps. others seem reeeeally expensive at that!(?)

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